Method and apparatus for vending customized documents

ABSTRACT

A customized document vending system includes an input device for receiving and storing customized input information for producing and vending customized documents for the customer. In response to the receipt of the customized input information, a device generates and supplies cost information to the customer. Responsive to signals indicative of the correct payment corresponding to the cost information being received, a device produces the customized documents.

DESCRIPTION

1. Technical Field

This invention relates in general to a method and apparatus for vendingcustomized documents. More particularly, the present invention relatesto a self-service system for vending customized documents, such asreturn-address mailing labels, business cards, or the like.

2. Background Art

There are various different customized documents, such as return addressmailing labels, business cards, and the like, have been printed inquantities for sale to customers. While prior known printing techniquesmay have been satisfactory for some applications, delays in deliveringsuch customized materials have not always been tolerable to thecustomers.

Thus, it would be highly desirable to have a self-service customizeddocument vending system. Such a system could enable a customer toproduce his or her own customized documents without delay. In thisregard, the customer would operate the vending system himself orherself, without the assistance of the owner of the system, in anautomatic mode of operation.

Such vending systems could be installed at many locations, such as astore, a post office or any other place where the public may frequent.Thus, such a vending system would not only be able to vend suchcustomized documents in a rapid manner, but also would be convenient touse and would be provided at many convenient locations for use by thepublic.

Such a vending system must not only be convenient to use, but also beadapted to perform a variety of functions, and be able to exact anappropriate charge for each such customized document. For example, wherecustomized documents require special fonts and different shaped sizesand/or colors, or other special or customized features, separate chargesmust be made, depending on the particular type or kind of customizeddocument. Thus, it would be highly desirable to have a new and improvedcustomized document vending system, which is adapted to create documentsof various shapes, fonts and color, and/or specialized features in aconvenient manner, so that the system can be operated by members of thepublic. As a result, such a new and improved vending system should notonly be able to produce and to vend a variety of types and kinds ofcustomized documents, but also it should secure an appropriate paymentfor the selected customized document, in an efficient and effectivemanner.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Therefore, it is the principal object of the present invention toprovide a new and improved system and method for vending customizeddocuments to customers, such as members of the general public, in aconvenient and efficient manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a new andimproved system and method particularly useful for customized documents,having a variety of different possible characteristics, such as size,printing style, color, and others.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such a new and improvedvending system and method to enable an appropriate charge to be made forthe desired customized document.

Briefly, the above and further objects of the present invention arerealized by providing a new and improved method and apparatus forvending customized documents such as mailing labels, business cards, orthe like in a relatively convenient and efficient manner.

A customized document vending system includes an input device forreceiving and storing customized input information for producing andvending customized documents for the customer. In response to thereceipt of the customized input information, a device generates andsupplies cost information to the customer. Responsive to signalsindicative of the correct payment corresponding to the cost informationbeing received, a device produces the customized documents.

In the preferred form of the invention, the system is used to produceand to vend customized documents in the form of return address labels.In such an arrangement, there is provided self service sales andinformation terminals, which include a data processing computer, a billand coin acceptor, an interactive communication interface between thedata processing computer and the bill and coin acceptor mechanism, avideo display for displaying sales and inquiry information to thecustomers, and a printing to furnish the customer with the requestedmailing labels. In its operation, the system carries out the followingsteps for producing and vending labels:

1. Queries from a customer are accepted by the self service sales andinformation terminal as to the label type, size, color and printingformat;

2. The terminal solicits any necessary information from the customer inorder to answer the queries;

3. Customer information and queries are transmitted to the dataprocessing computer;

4. Relevant data are retrieved from data sources, processed andtransmitted to the video terminal for responding to the customer;

5. If the customer elects to make a purchase of label in response to thedata received, the system receives the customers monetary remittance forthe labels requested and returns the required change, if any, to thecustomer; and

6. On receipt of the appropriate monetary remittance, the requestedlabels are dispensed to the customer.

The computer contains information on various label sizes, print fonttypes and pricing. The terminal is programmed to audio visually elicitfrom the customer the information necessary to provide a label quotationfor the type and size of label requested. If the customer elects topurchase the quoted label, the terminal accepts the customer's money,returns any required change and dispenses the requested labels.

The system saves considerable money and time for both the customers andthe printing company. The customer does not have to personally visit ortelephone the printing company in order to obtain a quotation, and thecompany does not have to provide sales personnel or equipment operationpersonnel, to deal with multiple queries on a one-to-one basis. Sincemany of these queries do not result in sales, company time which wouldotherwise be wasted is saved.

The terminal may be located at a convenient location, such as at thepost office, supermarkets convenience stores, and so on.

The data processing computer stores information on the label types andprices and is programmed to gather a predetermined sequence ofinformation from a customer on the labels in which the customer isinterested and to process the information and transmit back to the videoterminal from the customers information. Subsequently, the terminal isprogrammed to accept an order for the offered labels from the customer,to collect payment and to vend the labels to the customer.

Thus, a customer is asked pertinent questions on the types of labelsdesired, the quantity desired and the information necessary to process aquotation for that particular type of label selected. The gatheredinformation is sent to the computer where the quotation is processed andtransmitted back to the video terminal. The customer is then given anopportunity to purchase the selected labels. If a set of labels aredesired, the system accepts the customer's money, verifies the correctamount has been received, returns any necessary change, and prints andvends the requested mailing labels with the information requested by thecustomer.

In view of the foregoing, the system of the present invention enablescustomized documents to be produced and vended to a customer. Since thedocument is customized, various different parameters of documents can beaccounted for and thus charged the client, in a convenient, self-servicemode of operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above mentioned and other objects and features of this invention andthe manner of attaining them will become apparent, and the inventionitself will be best understood by reference to the following descriptionof the embodiment of the invention in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a customized document vending system, whichis constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the video subsystem of the vending systemof FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 3-10 are flowchart diagrams of software programs used forcontrolling the system of FIG. 1.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof,there is shown a self-service customized document vending system 10,which is constructed in accordance with the present invention, and whichis adapted to produce and to vend customized documents in the form ofreturn address mailing labels. While mailing labels are shown anddescribed herein, it should also be understood that other customizeddocuments may also be produced and supplied by the vending system of thepresent invention.

Considering now the inventive label making system 10 in greater detailwith reference to FIG. 1, the system 10 generally includes a selfservice sales and information terminal housing 11, which encloses apersonal computer CPU 12. The personal computer CPU 12 is an IBM PS-2Model 25 or equivalent and includes a video subsystem 15, a keyboard 17and a storage unit (not shown). The video subsystem 15 includes aconventional video monitor 29. The video subsystem 15 is manufactured byIBM for use with the IBM PS-2 Model 25 personal computers.

The keyboard 17 is similar to a conventional keyboard utilized with thePS-2 Model 25 system except that the keyboard 17 has certain keysdisabled such as the ALT/DELETE keys. The personal computer CPU 12 isconnected to an interface unit 13 for enabling a customer user of thesystem to solicit sales information and to purchase various types ofprinted documents in the form of customized mailing labels. The salesand information terminal 11 is installed at various convenientlocations, such as post offices, shopping malls, and so on.

The terminal 11 is designed to provide the same level of service aswould a well-informed sales representative and to interface with thecustomer by means of the communications and peripheral communicationsubsystem 14.

The interface unit 13 is also connected to the system peripherals thatincludes a bill/coin acceptor 18, printer 19, and customer activationswitch 20.

The interface unit 13 enables the personal computer CPU 12 to sense theactivation of a customer activation switch 20 and to coordinate theoperation of the bill/coin acceptor 18 with the other peripheral unitsof the system 10.

The bill/coin acceptor 18 includes a Mars Electronics Model TRC 6000Coin Acceptor and a Model L020-U4C Bill Acceptor. The printer 19 is aHewlett Packard LaserJet Model IIP^(D) or the equivalent.

There is also an optional feature (not shown) which includes a modifiedinterface unit 13 and bill/coin acceptor 18 for allowing the system toaccept standard credit cards in lieu of bills and coins.

Considering now the interface unit 13 in greater detail with referenceto FIG. 1, the interface unit 13 links the various peripheral units withthe personal computer coin 12. In this manner, the personal computer CPU12 is able to coordinate the operation of the bill/coin acceptor 18 withthe other peripheral units of the System. The interface unit 13 includesa conventional communication subsystem RS232 serial circuit (not shown)for converting the signals received from the coin/bill acceptor 18acceptable to the personal computer CPU 12. The interface unit 13 alsoconverts the bill/coin acceptor 18 signals into proper formatting forprocessing by the personal computer CPU 12, such as ASCII format.

The interface unit 13 of the peripheral communication subsystem 14 isprogrammed to detect the presence of a prospective customer via anactuation device 20. When the actuation device 20 of the terminal 11 isactivated, a customer detection signal is transmitted via the interfaceunit 13 to the video subsystem 15, which operates to commence playing apre-arranged video presentation.

Considering now the video subsystem 15 in greater detail with referenceto FIG. 2, the video subsystem 15 basically comprises a video controller26 associated with a memory 27 for controlling operation of the videosubsystem 15, a read only memory or software unit 28, and a videomonitor 29. The video subsystem 15 is connected to the interface unit 13so that the operation of the video subsystem 15 presentation may becoordinated with the operation of the bill and coin acceptor 18, andprinter 19.

Considering now the operation of the video subsystem 15 in greaterdetail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the video subsystem 15 via thepersonal computer CPU 12, commences the preprogrammed video presentationstored in the storage unit (not shown) once the interface unit 13transmits a customer detection signal to the personal computer CPU 12.The video presentation then solicits and allows the customer to enterinformation at various points via the keyboard terminal 17 and messagesdisplayed on the monitor screen 29.

The personal computer 12, processes the information it receives from theinterface unit 13 and sends information back to the interface unit 13.Information received back from the data processing personal computer 12,for example, a printing label quotation, is also displayed on themonitor 29.

The video subsystem 15 via the personal computer CPU 12 then continuesthe presentation asking the customer whether or not he or she wishes tomake a purchase. If a purchase order is entered, the customer places anappropriate amount of money comprised of bills and coins in the bill andcoin mechanism 18. The type of money inserted in the bill and coinmechanism 18 is transmitted to the data processing personal computer 12via the interface unit 13. The personal computer CPU 12 upon receipt ofthe type of money received calculates the amount of money inserted intothe bill and coin mechanism 18 to determine whether an appropriateamount of money has been remitted by the customer. If an inappropriateamount of money has been received or an insufficient amount of money hasbeen received, the personal computer 12 transmits a signal that causesthe video monitor 29 to display a message requesting that a correctamount of money be inserted into the bill and coin mechanism 18. Uponreceipt of an appropriate amount of money, the requested mailing labelsare vended via the label printer 19.

Considering now the operation of the system 10 in greater detail, inconnection with the following description of the software residing inthe personal computer and in the video subsystem with reference to FIGS.3-10, the customer upon actuating the terminal actuation device 20, isconfronted with a series of messages which appear on the video screen,solicits data, displays answers, and gives instructions about the use ofthe system, and generally creates the impression of dealing with a liveperson. These operations are under the master control of the personalcomputer 12.

The data processing personal computer 12 includes the storage unit (notshown) for storing program information and information on labels orprices for various types and quantities of labels. The data processingpersonal computer 12 operates in response to program instructions to: 1)perform label quotation calculations in response to customer informationreceived from the keyboard terminal 17; 2) to send quotation data to theinterface unit 13 so that the video controller 26 will display such dataon the video monitor 29; 3) and to receive monetary information from thebill and coin acceptor 18 for payment approval or disapproval.

If a customer makes a purchaser order after inserting the appropriateamount of money, the data processing personal computer 12 stores thelabel information and sends instruction to the label printer 19 to printan appropriate amount of labels.

The various programs for carrying out the operations of the terminal 11are of a "menu type" and can best be understood with reference to theflow diagram of FIGS. 3 and 4. FIGS. 3 and 4 shows the sequence ofoperations carried out at the sales terminal 11 by the data processingpersonal computer 12, in response to input from the keyboard terminal17.

The sequence of operations basically comprises the following steps:

1. terminal waits detection of a customer;

2. terminal actuated by customer;

3. information gathering message played;

4. customer selects labels and enters necessary information;

5. customer entered information displayed on monitor for editing andcorrections by customer;

6. customer makes corrections if any;

7. system prompts customer for quantity of labels desired;

8. information relayed to data processing personal computer;

9. data processing personal computer forms label quotation calculations,and relays the information back to the video terminal;

10. information given to customer on monitor screen;

11. customer asked if he or she wishes to make purchase;

12. if customer wishes to purchase label, payment is received andrelayed to the data processing person computer center;

13. the data processing personal computer determines whether theappropriate payment has been received for the requested labels and ifchange is required or a different monetary bill is required;

14. if additional money is required or if a different bill is requiredthe amount or bill information is communicated to the terminal anddisplayed to the customer; and

15. if proper payment is made, the order is taken and a set of labelsare issued to the customer at the terminal.

The steps will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIG. 3, after the system has been powered up, aterminal program READY will automatically start from enter instruction300 and then proceed to a decision instruction 301 to await systemactuation by a customer. When a customer actuates the activation switch20, such as an infrared detection device, of the terminal 11, theinterface unit 13 is activated and sends a signal to the personalcomputer CPU 12. When the CPU 12 receives the actuation signal, theprogram advance to instruction 302 to call the subroutine PROCESS thatpermits video subsystem 15 to play back a sales presentation. Once thesubroutine PROCESS has been executed, the program returns to the readystate (instruction 300) waiting for a new customer.

Considering now the subroutine PROCESS in greater detail with referenceto FIG. 4, the subroutine PROCESS is entered from the READY routine atinstruction 400 and proceeds to instruction 401.

The program instruction 401 sets the transaction timer to 5 minutes. Theprogram then proceeds to instruction 402 and calls the subroutine SELECTwhich will be described hereinafter in greater detail. While in theSELECT subroutine, the program will prompt the customer to select anitem from its menu that includes various types of labels and otherprinted matter such as business cards, resumes, and letterhead paper.When the type of printed matter has been selected by the customer, theprogram proceeds to instruction 403 and sets a Query counter to one. Theprogram then proceeds to instruction 304 and calls the QUERY subroutinewhich will be described hereinafter in greater detail. While in theQUERY subroutine a series of pertinent questions appear on the monitor29 for the particular type of material selected by the customer. Theprogram prompts the customer to respond to each question. The customerenters responses from the keyboard, the responses are shown on themonitor screen. Once all the pertinent information is entered, theprogram proceeds to instruction 405 to reformat the customer's input andto display the entered information for customer verification so thecustomer may make any necessary changes to the information previouslyentered into the system. The program proceeds to decision instruction406 to determine if the customer has completed editing. If an editingcompleted signal has not been received the program proceeds toinstruction 407 to determine whether the transaction time has elapsed.If no answer is received from the customer within the predeterminedtransaction time limit, the program assumes the customer has left theterminal and proceeds to instruction 408 that return the system to theready state (instruction 200) to wait for the next customer. If thetimer has not elapsed, the program loops back to instruction 405 so thecustomer may continue the editing process. Once the information has beenedited, the program then proceeds to instruction that increments theQuery counter. The program then proceeds to instruction 411 and callsthe subroutine QUANTITY which will be described hereinafter in greaterdetail. While in the QUANTITY subroutine the program requests thecustomer to enter the quantity of materials required so that adetermination may be made that the system has a sufficient quantity ofprinting materials to fill the customer's order if placed.

If the quantity required by the customer exceeds the available supply,the system will display a message on the monitor notifying the customerof the lesser quantity that may be ordered. If the customer desires topurchase the lesser quantity indicated the program proceeds toinstruction 308. If no response is received the system returns to theready state.

Once the available and ordered quantity has been determined, the programproceeds to instruction 308 and calls the subroutine STYLE to determineif any special options are required by the customer such as typestyle,formats, etc. The subroutine STYLE will be described hereinafter ingreater detail.

Once all the necessary information has been gathered at the terminalthat includes type, data, style and quantity, the program proceeds toinstruction 413 so that the interface unit 13 may transmit the gatheredinformation to the data processing personal computer 12 via interface13. The instruction 413 calls the subroutine CALCULATE that will bedescribed hereinafter in greater detail. The personal computer 12performs the desired quote calculation, and sends the quotationinformation back to the terminal for display on the video monitor 29.This information is also transmitted to the coin and bill acceptor 18.

On receipt of the quotation the program proceeds to instruction 404 andcalls the subroutine VERIFY that will be described hereinafter ingreater detail. While in the VERIFY subroutine, the customer is asked ifhe or she wants to purchase the requested labels based on the quotation.If the answer is no, the customer is thanked and the terminal returns tothe ready state at instruction 200 to wait for the next customer. If theanswer is yes, the program prompts the customer to insert theappropriate amount of payment for the requested materials and thepayment verification process is completed by the subroutine VERIFY. Ifthe customer fails to insert the proper amount of money within thepredetermined transaction time the program returns to the ready state atinstruction 200 to wait for the next customer. If the customer insertsmoney into the coin and bill acceptor 18, the bill and coin acceptor 18transmits the information regarding the amount of money that it hasreceived from the customer to the data processing personal computer 12for verification of the proper sum. The data processing personalcomputer 12 determines that the customer has inserted a bill that is toolarge to remit change. The computer 12 instructs the bill and coinacceptor to return the inserted money to the customer. If the bill istoo large a message will be displayed notifying the customer andrequesting a smaller bill. If the requested amount is not inserted intothe coin and bill acceptor 18 the program returns to the ready state.This procedure results in either rejection or acceptance of payment, andcorresponding data is transmitted from the data processing personalcomputer 12 to the interface unit 13 so the appropriate response may bedisplayed on the video terminal 29.

If payment is accepted the bill and coin acceptor 18 sends an acceptsignal and the program displays the total amount paid and then proceedsto instruction 415 where the label information previously collected istransmitted to the interface unit 13 and a label print sequence isinitiated. The label information sent by the data processing personalcomputer 12 to the label printer 19 to cause the labels to be printedand dispensed to the customer. The program proceeds to instruction 415.Instruction 415 calls the subroutine QUERY which will be describedhereinafter in greater detail. While in the subroutine the customer isasked to respond to a series of demographic questions. The programreturns to the READY state if the customer does not respond. After thecustomer answers the questions, the answers are stored and the programreturns to the ready state.

The sequence of operations carried out by the data processing personalcomputer 12 in performing quotation calculations, carrying out paymentverification, and issuing label commands, will now be described withreference to the flow diagram parts, shown in FIGS. 5-10.

Considering now the subroutine SELECT in greater detail with referenceto FIG. 5, the subroutine SELECT is entered at instruction 500 from theprocess subroutine and proceeds to instruction 502 which prompts thecustomer to select an item from the menu. The program then proceeds toinstruction 503 to determine whether the customer has selected labelsthat the response is new the program proceeds to instruction 504 todetermine whether the customer has selected business cards. If thecustomer has not selected business cards, the program proceeds toinstruction 505 to determine whether the customer has selected anotherproduct such as a resume or letterhead paper. If the response is no, theprogram proceeds to instruction 506 to determine whether the transactiontimer has elapsed. If the timer has not elapsed, the program loops backto instruction 502 and again prompts the customer to select an item fromthe menu. This process continues looping between constructions 502 to506 until the customers either actually made a selection or until thetimer has elapsed. In the event the timer has elapsed, the program willproceed from instruction 506 to instruction 513 which will return thesystem to the ready state. If the customer has selected a label, theprogram will exit the loop at instruction 503 and proceed to instruction520 and will set a product counter to a quantity that designates thatlabels were selected. The program proceeds from instruction 520 toinstruction 523 which returns the program to the process SUBROUTINE. Ifthe customer has selected cards, the program proceeds from instruction504 to instruction 521 which sets the product counter to a memberproduct counter to a number that designates that the customer hasselected cards. The program proceeds from instruction 521 to instruction523 to return the program to the process subroutine. If the customer hasselected some other product, the program proceeds from instruction 505to instruction 522 that sets the product counter to a number thatdesignates the other products selected by the customer. After theproduct counter has been set in instruction 522, the program proceeds toinstruction 523 which returns the program to the process subroutine.

Considering now the subroutine QUERY in greater detail with reference toFIG. 6, the subroutine QUERY is entered from the subroutine process atinstruction 600. Upon entering the subroutine, the program proceeds todecision instruction 601, which determines whether this is the firstQUERY process. If the answer is no the program proceeds to instruction630 and sets the question counter to a predetermined number so thatquestions pertain to other than the first QUERY process. The programthen proceeds to instruction 604.

If the answer is YES the program proceeds to instruction 603 which setsthe question counter to a predetermined number so that the questionspertain to the first QUERY process. The program them proceeds toinstruction 604 which prompts the customer for the information based onthe question counter. The program proceeds from instruction 604 toinstruction 605 to determine whether the customer has answered the firstquestion. If the customer has not answered the first question, theprogram proceeds to instruction 606 to determine whether the transactiontimer has elapsed. If the timer has not elapsed, the program loops backto instruction 604 and again prompts the customer to answer thequestion. If the timer has elapsed, the program will proceed frominstruction 606 to instruction 607 which will return the program to theready state. If the customer has answered the question, the program willproceed from instruction 605 to instruction 610 which will increment thequestion counter so that a new question will be displayed for thecustomer's consideration. After incrementing the question counter, theprogram proceeds to instruction 611 to determine whether all thequestions have been answered by the customer. If the answer is no, theprogram loops to instruction 604 which prompts the customer with the newquestion. If the response is yes, the program proceeds to decisioninstruction 612 to determine whether this is the first QUERY process. Ifthe answer is yes, the program proceeds to instruction 613 which returnsthe program to the subroutine PROCESS. If the answer is no, the programproceeds to instruction 620 which returns the program to the readystate.

Considering now the subroutine QUANTITY in greater detail, withreference to FIG. 7, the subroutine QUANTITY is entered at instruction700 from the subroutine PROCESS and proceeds to instruction 701 whichprompts the customer for the quantity of materials that are desired. Theprogram then proceeds to decision instruction 702 to determine whetherthe customer has entered the quantity. If the answer is no, the programproceeds to decision instruction 703 to determine whether the timer haselapsed. If the answer is no, the program moves back to instruction 701and again prompts the customer to enter the quantity desired. If thetimer has elapsed, the program proceeds from instruction 703 toinstruction 704 which returns the program to the ready state. If thecustomer has entered the quantity, the program proceeds from decisioninstruction 702 to instruction 705 which compares the requested quantitywith the inventory quantities that are available to fill the customer'sorder. The program then proceeds to decision instruction 706 todetermine whether the inventory quantity is sufficient to fill thecustomer's order. If the inventory quantity is sufficient, the programproceeds to instruction 720 which returns the program to the processsubroutine. If the quantity is insufficient, the program proceeds frominstruction 706 to instruction 710 and notifies the customer and promptsthe customer to select a lesser quantity. The program then proceeds todecision instruction 711 to determine whether the customer has selecteda lesser quantity. If a lesser quantity has not been selected, theprogram proceeds to decision instruction 712 to determine whether thetimer has elapsed. If the timer has not elapsed, the program loops backto instruction 710 and again prompts the customer to select the lesserquantity. If the timer has elapsed, the program proceeds to instruction713 which returns the program to the ready state. If the customer doesselect a lesser quantity, the program proceeds from instruction 711 toinstruction 730 which returns the program to the subroutine process.

Considering now the subroutine STYLE in greater detail with reference toFIG. 8, the subroutine STYLE is entered at instruction 800 from thesubroutine PROCESS. The program proceeds from instruction 800 toinstruction 801 which prompts the customer or the typestyle desired onthe selected item. The program then proceeds to decision instruction 802determine whether the customer has selected one of the availabletypestyles. If the response is no, the program proceeds to decisioninstruction 803 to determine whether the timer has elapsed. If the timerhas not elapsed, the program loops back to instruction 801 and againprompts the customer to select one of the available typestyles. If thetimer has elapsed, the program proceeds from instruction 803 toinstruction 820 which returns the program to the ready state. If thecustomer has made a selection, the program proceeds from instruction 802to instruction 804 which prompts the customer to select one of theavailable formats. The program then proceeds from instruction 804 todecision instruction 805 to determine whether the customer has made aselection of one of the formats. If the answer is no, the programproceeds to decision instruction 806 to determine whether the timer haselapsed. If the timer has elapsed, the program proceeds to instruction820 which returns the program to the ready state. If the timer has notelapsed, the program moves back to instruction 804 and again prompts thecustomer to make a selection of one of the formats. If the customer hasmade a selection of format the program proceeds from instruction 805 toinstruction 810 and prompts the customer for other available featuresthat are provided. The program then proceeds to instruction 811 todetermine whether the customer has made one of the other featureselections. If the customer has not made one of the other availablefeature selections, the program proceeds to decision instruction 812 todetermine whether the timer has elapsed. If the timer has elapsed, theprogram proceeds to instruction 820 which returns the program to theready state. If the timer has not elapsed, the program moves back toinstruction 810 and again prompts the customer to select one of theother features. If the customer has selected one of the other features,the program proceeds from instruction 811 to instruction 813 whichreturns the program to the subroutine process.

Considering now the subroutine calculate in greater detail withreference to FIG. 5, the subroutine calculate is entered at instruction700 from the subroutine PROCESS. The program then proceeds frominstruction 700 to instruction 701 which sets the quantity counter basedupon the quantity selected by the customer. The program proceeds toinstruction 902 and sets the feature counter which indicates the numberof features selected by the customer. The program then proceeds toinstruction 904 which sums the various type quantity and featurecounters so that the rate table may be accessed for a quotationcalculation. The program then proceeds to instruction 904 which locatesthe rate information from the rate table. Once the rate information hasbeen located in the rate table, the program proceeds to instruction 905which sends the rate information to the bill and coin acceptor anddisplays the quotation information on the monitor for the customer'sconsideration. The program then proceeds from instruction 905 toinstruction 906 which returns the program to the PROCESS subroutine.

Considering now the subroutine VERIFY in greater detail with referenceto FIG. 10, the subroutine VERIFY is entered from instruction 1000 fromthe subroutine process. The program proceeds from instruction 1000 toinstruction 1001 which prompts the customer as to whether or not he orshe desires to make a purchase. The program proceeds from instruction1001 to decision instruction 1002 to determine whether or not thecustomer has made a request. If the response is no, the program proceedsto decision instruction 1003 to determine whether the transaction timerhas elapsed. If the transaction timer has elapsed, the program proceedsto instruction 1004, which returns the program to the ready state. Ifthe timer has not elapsed, the program loops back to instruction 1001and again prompts the customer to make a purchase. If the customer hasmade a request for purchase, the program proceeds from instruction 1002to instruction 1010 which prompts the customer to insert the quotedpurchase price. The program then proceeds to instruction decisioninstruction 1011 to determine whether or not the customer has insertedthe requested amount of money. If the answer is no, the program proceedsto decision instruction 1012 to determine whether the transaction timerhas elapsed. If the transaction timer has elapsed, the program proceedsto instruction 1013 which returns the program to the ready state. If thetransaction timer has not elapsed, the program loops back to instruction1010 and again prompts the customer to insert the required amount ofmoney. If the customer has inserted money into the coin and billacceptor the program proceeds from instruction 1011 to decisioninstruction 1020 which determines whether or not the dollar bill amountwas too large for the coin and bill acceptor to remit a proper amount ofchange. The bill was too large, the program proceeds to instruction1021, which returns the bill to the customer and prompts the customer toinsert a smaller denominational amount. The program proceeds frominstruction 1021 back to instruction 1010 and again prompts the customerto insert the money. If the bill that was inserted by the customer isnot too large, the program proceeds from decision instruction 1020 toinstruction 1030 which instructs the bill and coin acceptor to continueits escrow process. The program proceeds from instruction 1030 toinstruction 1031 to determine whether or not an accept signal has beengenerated by the coin and bill acceptor 18. If no accept signal has beenreceived, the program proceeds to decision instruction 1032 to determinewhether the transaction timer has elapsed. If the transaction timer haselapsed, the program proceeds to instruction 1033 which returns theprogram to the ready state. If the timer has not elapsed, the programproceeds from instruction 1032 back to instruction 1010 and againprompts the customer for money. If the bill and coin acceptor hasgenerated an accept signal, the program proceeds from decisioninstruction 1031 to instruction 1040 which returns the program to thesubroutine PROCESS.

The system of this invention allows a customer quick and easy access tolabel quotations from several different types of labels, and allows thecustomer to make a selection and purchase of labels on a self-servicebasis. All the necessary operations of obtaining information, receivingpayment, and issuing labels, are carried out automatically. This resultsin considerable savings in time and money for the customer and companiesalike and will potentially result in more sales and self-serviceterminals may be established in many more areas that would normally beserviced by printing offices and representatives.

It will be clear that modifications can be made to the disclosedembodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. The scopeof the invention is therefore not limited to the disclosed embodimentbut is defined by the appended claims.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed, it is to be understood that various different modificationsare possible and are contemplated within the true spirit and scope ofthe appended claims. There is no intention, therefore, of limitations tothe exact abstract or disclosure herein presented.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for vending customized documents,comprising:customer actuated input means for receiving information froma customer, said information including customized information for acustomized document to be produced; computer means for processing saidcustomized information to generate a customized document to be produced;means responsive to said information being received for generating andsupplying to the customer cost information for using the system toproduce said customized document; means responsive to receipt of paymentto use the system for generating signals indicative of payment beingreceived for producing the customized document to be produced; printermeans for transferring the customized information to customized documentpaper stock; means responsive to said signals indicative of paymentbeing received for retrieving the processed customized information;means for supplying the retrieved processed customized information tosaid printer means; means responsive to said retrieved information forcausing said printer means to deposit indicia on the paper stock, saidindicia configured in the shape of the processed customized informationfor producing the customized document; and customer actuation switchmeans for initiating the operation of the system, wherein said switchmeans includes an infrared proximity switch for generating a signal inresponse to the presence of a customer in the proximity of the system.2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said means responsive topayment includes means for generating signals indicative of anoverpayment being received for returning the payment made to thecustomer and for supplying correct payment request information to thecustomer.
 3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said computer meansis a personal computer.
 4. A system according to claim 3, wherein saidcomputer includes a video subsystem.
 5. A system according to claim 4,wherein said video subsystem includes a video controller and memorymeans.
 6. A system according to claim 4, wherein said input meansincludes a computer keyboard forming a part of said personal computer.7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said personal computerincludes a computer processor unit coupled in communication with saidkeyboard.
 8. A system according to claim 1, wherein said printer meansincludes a computer printer.
 9. A system according to claim 8, whereinsaid computer printer is a laser printer.
 10. A system according toclaim 9, further including customer actuation switch means forinitiating the operation of the system.
 11. A customer sales andinformation terminal for vending automatically customized documentscomprising:processor means for storing labels and price rate informationfor given labels and customer sales information; a communicationterminal including means for linking said terminal with said processormeans and for transmitting data between said processor means and acustomer; said communication terminal including: visual means forinteraction with a customer; means for storing a sequence of videoinformation to be selectively transmitted to a customer; means fortransmitting a selected sequence of said stored information to thecustomer; customer operated input means for gathering information from acustomer and for accepting customer orders for a label; means forcontrolling, storing and transmitting means in response to customerinput to transmit a selected sequence of information to the customer;said communication terminal further including: means for storinginformation and order input by a customer; means for transmitting saidinformation in a customer order via interface means to said processormeans; means for receiving data comprising customer selected informationand label quotation from said processor means via said interface means;means responsive to said data receiving means for vending labels to thecustomer; means for directing the operation of said visual means, datareceiving and transmitting means, and vending means comprising algorithmmeans for programming their operational sequence and means responsive tothe status of various means for controlling their operation; saidprocessor means including: means responsive to the data received fromsaid communication terminal for transmitting selected stored informationto said terminal via said interface; and means responsive to a customersales order from said communication terminal for transmitting said orderto said label printer via said interface means for vending labels. 12.The system of claim 11, further including a payment receiving deviceinterfaced to said processor means, said communication terminalincluding:means responsive to a customer order for receiving paymentfrom the customer in transmitting said payment information to saidprocessor means, and said processor means including means responsive tosaid payment information for assessing said payment information based onpayment, and transmitting the results to said communication terminal.13. The system of claim 12, wherein said payment information collectingmeans comprises a bill and coin mechanism.
 14. The system of claim 11,wherein said visual means includes a cathode ray tube display unit andsaid input means comprises a keyboard terminal.
 15. The system of claim11, wherein said means for vending labels to said customer includes alaser printer unit.